New York state briefs

Thursday

Mar 27, 2008 at 12:01 AMMar 27, 2008 at 9:18 PM

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Staff reports

Retiring Herkimer County Community College president turns over duties early

HERKIMER – Several officials associated with Herkimer County Community College confirmed reports that President Ronald Williams will be taking a vacation from daily responsibilities prior to his retirement at the end of the current semester.

Williams appointed Dean of Administration Nicholas F. Laino to handle day-to-day operations, a common practice during vacations, until a replacement is found, according to Rebecca Ruffing, a college spokeswoman.

This decision is part of the transition of winding down a 22-year career, and is being used by the president to prepare for end-of-the-year activities such as the scholarship reception, said Ruffing.

HCCC Board of Trustees Chairman Donald Snyder said there have been only two presidents in 42 years at the college and Williams, as one of the two, is responsible for tripling the size of the campus. These accomplishments have earned him the honor of having the library dedicated in his name.

The process to fill the position began after Williams announced his retirement in October last year, and a search committee headed by Chairwoman Angela Semo recently started interviews, which should conclude next week.

A field of 53 applicants has been reduced to six, and the board is confident the committee will find a replacement among the very-qualified candidates, said Snyder. He attributed the great pool of potential presidents to the cutting edge programs at the college.

Shooting for a state Emmy

PENFIELD — After Anthony Machi wrote, directed and produced the documentary “Albert Paley: In Search of the Sentinel,” his cameraman encouraged Machi to enter the piece for a CINE Golden Eagle award.
Well,Machi and his cameraman, Steve DelMonte, won the honor last spring.

“Steve said to me, ‘Oh my, now that we won the Golden Eagle ... we should definitely enter it for the Emmy,’” Machi said.

And although Machi isn’t an award hound, he decided to enter the film in the New York state Emmy award contest. Now his film is up for two Emmys in the arts and cultural and the independent photographer categories.

The film’s subject, Paley, is a metal sculptor.

The documentary has aired across the country on public TV.

Port City commemorates 160 years

OSWEGO – On March 24, 1848, the city of Oswego was granted its charter and became incorporated as a city. Now, 160 years later, the city is celebrating its milestone anniversary.

The American Flag from 1848 hung in council chambers as part of the 160th anniversary proclamation Monday evening. Mayor Randy Bateman stated that the name Oswego came from the indigenous people from the area meaning “pouring out place.”

City historian Rosemary Nesbitt was in attendance and dressed up as Oswego Town’s most memorable woman, Dr. Mary Walker. She was one of the first female doctors in the United States, serving during the Civil War for which she received the Congressional Medal of Honor. “I represent by wearing this costume the long, long list of distinguished people that came from this city,” Nesbitt said.

The city will celebrate in full its 160th anniversary at the farmers’ market, June 5, in downtown Oswego. The city charter will be on display for those who wish to read it. Nesbitt noted that the original market was located indoors and the owner of the original market building is restoring one of the market bays for people to visit during the celebration in June.

Timeout for swimming pool

IRONDEQUOIT — Out with the old, in with the new.

The West Irondequoit school district has the required state Education Department approval to replace its pool. Voters in the district approved the project by a more than 3-1 margin last May. With the state’s OK, the project is on target to go out to bid in April, said Bill Domm, assistant superintendent for business.

Domm said the district expects to open bids May 15, after which the board will award a bid to a contractor for the project. He said the aim is for construction of the new pool at Irondequoit High School to begin right after school is out in late June.

First up is demolition of the district’s 1950s-era pool and some exterior walls this summer. The hope is to have the new pool’s shell complete and the new pool enclosed by Dec. 1 so work can continue through winter. The district hopes to open the new pool in September 2009.